A COVID-19 outbreak inside the Monterey County Jail has quadrupled in size since it was first reported Monday afternoon.The number of inmates now testing is at 130, up from just 29 a few days ago.“The ultimate goal is to get this thing on the downhill side and get it decreased because we’ve been down to zero before,” said department spokesman, Derrell Simpson.Jail staff continues to try and eliminate as much outside influence as they can; jail visits are suspended, court appearances are back on zoom, and inmates are eating off disposable trays.Those testing positive continue to be quarantined and COVID-19 testing is ongoing. Administrators admit the problem is likely to get worse before getting better.“If there’s 50 people living in an area and one of them contracts COVID, 49 of them have now been exposed and they have to go through the testing process and they may not show symptoms or test positive for a week or two, so that number’s going to continue to grow but at some point, we’re going to get a handle on it,” Simpson said.Seventeen deputies have also tested positive that’s an increase of one from earlier in the week. Eight of them remain on sick leave. Of all the deputies testing positive, only one was vaccinated.Sheriff’s commanders say the department is now routinely telling staff a vaccine is the best defense against COVID-19 and the highly contagious delta variant.“As deputies and everyone kind of assesses that I think a lot of people are changing their position on whether they should be vaccinated or not but certainly we’ve seen a trend toward that in the sheriff’s office recently,” Simpson said.A Sept. 30 deadline is also fast approaching in which all Monterey County employees must show proof of vaccination or provide a medical or religious exemption.The Monterey County health department is closely monitoring the outbreak inside the county jail and is providing the sheriff’s department with extra technical assistance to help stop the spread.In light of the outbreak, only one person has been hospitalized; an inmate who is expected to make a full recovery.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
A COVID-19 outbreak inside the Monterey County Jail has quadrupled in size since it was first reported Monday afternoon.
The number of inmates now testing is at 130, up from just 29 a few days ago.
“The ultimate goal is to get this thing on the downhill side and get it decreased because we’ve been down to zero before,” said department spokesman, Derrell Simpson.
Jail staff continues to try and eliminate as much outside influence as they can; jail visits are suspended, court appearances are back on zoom, and inmates are eating off disposable trays.
Those testing positive continue to be quarantined and COVID-19 testing is ongoing. Administrators admit the problem is likely to get worse before getting better.
“If there’s 50 people living in an area and one of them contracts COVID, 49 of them have now been exposed and they have to go through the testing process and they may not show symptoms or test positive for a week or two, so that number’s going to continue to grow but at some point, we’re going to get a handle on it,” Simpson said.
Seventeen deputies have also tested positive that’s an increase of one from earlier in the week. Eight of them remain on sick leave. Of all the deputies testing positive, only one was vaccinated.
Sheriff’s commanders say the department is now routinely telling staff a vaccine is the best defense against COVID-19 and the highly contagious delta variant.
“As deputies and everyone kind of assesses that I think a lot of people are changing their position on whether they should be vaccinated or not but certainly we’ve seen a trend toward that in the sheriff’s office recently,” Simpson said.
A Sept. 30 deadline is also fast approaching in which all Monterey County employees must show proof of vaccination or provide a medical or religious exemption.
The Monterey County health department is closely monitoring the outbreak inside the county jail and is providing the sheriff’s department with extra technical assistance to help stop the spread.
In light of the outbreak, only one person has been hospitalized; an inmate who is expected to make a full recovery.